Are you aware of the fact that every day you expose yourself and others to harful toxic chemicals found in simple household products such as hair spray and lipstick. Interestingly, several everyday consumer products are made with toxic chemicals that can't be found anywhere on the package label. In a study, 40 household products such as hair coloring, lipstick and paints were tested for toxic chemicals. Out of these 40 products, evidence of the following chemicals was discovered in 34 of the products: glycols, organic solvents and phthalates. These chemicals did not appear on the label of the products.

Researchers also stated the most common toxic chemical that people would most likely inhale come from household products. These chemicals included chlorine, toluene, xylene, methyl, ethyl ketone and n-hexane.

Based on the findings from these studies, environmental groups recommended stricter labeling requirements. A chemical spokesperson stated that these claims weren't supported by scientific evidence and served merely as scare tactics as a way to get people to not buy the products they depend on for everyday use. Another spokesperson for the cosmetic industry claimed that the amount of toxic chemicals used in cosmetics and other household products was very low and regulated by the Food and Drug Administration.

Common household toxics and the products they're found in:

* Sodium hypochlorite (chlorine bleach) Lung and eye irritant. Household bleach is the most common cleaner accidentally swallowed by children. If mixed with ammonia or acid- based cleaners (including vinegar), releases highly toxic chloramine gas. Short-term exposure to chloramine gas may cause mild asthmatic symptoms or more serious respiratory problems. (Source: Children's Health Environmental Coalition)

* Petroleum distillates (metal polishes) Short-term exposure can cause temporary eye clouding; longer exposure can damage the nervous system, skin, kidneys, and eyes.

* Ammonia (glass cleaner) Lung and skin irritant. If mixed with chorine, releases toxic chloramine gas. Short-term exposure to chloramine gas may cause coughing, choking and lung damage. Asthmatics may be particularly vulnerable to asthma and chloramine fumes. (Source: Children's Health Environmental Coalition)

* Phenol and cresol (disinfectants) Corrosive; can cause diarrhea, fainting, dizziness, and kidney and liver damage.

* Nitrobenzene (furniture and floor polishes) Can cause shallow breathing, vomiting, and death; associated with cancer and birth defects.

* Formaldehyde (preservative in many household products, glue in particleboard and plywood furniture) Probable human carcinogen. Levels of formaldehyde in air as low as 0.1 ppm (0.1 part formaldehyde per million parts of air) can cause watery eyes, burning sensations in the eyes, nose and throat, stuffy nose, nausea, coughing, chest tightness, wheezing, skin rashes and allergic reactions. (Source: U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission)

* Perchloroethylene or 1-1-1 trichloroethane solvents (dry cleaning flued, spot removers and carpet cleaners) Eye, skin and lung irritant. Can cause liver and kidney damage if ingested; perchloroethylene has caused cancer in some laboratory animals and is considered a probable human carcinogen. Can accumulate and persist in human fatty tissues and breast milk.

* Naphthalene or paradichlorobenzene (mothballs, toilet bowl cleaners) Naphthalene fumes can irritate eyes, skin, and respiratory tract. Chronic exposure to naphthalene can cause damage to liver, kidneys, skin, and the central nervous system. Paradichlorobenzene is a probable carcinogen that can also harm the central nervous system, liver and kidneys. High concentration of fumes may irritate eyes, nose, throat and lungs. (Source: Children's Health Environmental Coalition)

* Hydrochloric acid or sodium acid sulfate (toilet bowl cleaners) Either can burn the skin or cause vomiting, diarrhea and stomach burns if swallowed; also can cause blindness if inadvertently splashed in the eyes.

* Formaldehyde, phenol, and pentachlorophenol (spray starch) Any aerosolized particle, including cornstarch, may irritate the lungs.